Compare towns
Wakefield vs Mendon vs Dedham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wakefield | Mendon | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
6,325Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$616,000±$37kLowest 10% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,840±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$7,213Lowest 20% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mendon-Upton | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.